HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC — A leading cricketer facing heroin charges has withdrawn from the Bermuda squad announced earlier this month for a four-country Twenty20 tournament in the United States.
The Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) announced yesterday that Fiqre Crockwell has pulled out of the ICC Americas Division One Twenty20 qualifiers in Indianapolis set for May 2-11 after questions were raised about his inclusion in the squad.
No reason for 29-year-old Crockwell’s withdrawal was given.
Crockwell, who took part in a warm-up tour of Jamaica two weeks ago, is to stand trial on May 27 to face charges of possession of heroin with intent to supply.
He has denied the charges.
Bermuda have also lost pace bowler Malachi Jones because of injury for the US trip.
Crockwell and Jones have been replaced by Jason Anderson and Jacobi Robinson at the tournament, which features the US, Canada, Suriname and Bermuda.
BCB president Lloyd Fray said: “It is disappointing Fiqre and Malachi are unable to represent Bermuda at this tournament but we are fortunate that we are able to replace them with two highly experienced international cricketers.”
The Royal Gazette newspaper said recently that the BCB’s decision to pick Crockwell took a month of internal wrangling and was not a unanimous one, but it ultimately rested on the fact that the Board does not have a policy regarding selection when it comes to off-the-field behaviour.
The Gazette said the BCB is working to implement such a policy.
“Minister (Patricia) Gordon-Pamplin is being apprised of the challenges and examining the entire matter to determine how it affects the policies for all of our national sports governing bodies in regards to this type of circumstance,” a recent Ministry of Sport statement said.
BCB officials have long talked about implementing a conduct policy for cricketers that would provide the Board with the means to take action should a player behave in a manner they deem unworthy of someone representing their country.
The Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA) is already in the process of creating a policy and procedures manual governing exactly this type of situation for its athletes, although according to the BOA “each national federation should have in place their own criteria before the BOA approves anyone representing Bermuda”.
